New Castle Man Arrested On Weapons Charges

Wilmington – The Delaware State Police have arrested a 19 year old New Castle man for weapons offenses after he reportedly threatened another man with a gun earlier today.

Troopers began the investigation after a friend of Luis O. Marquez-Dejesus, 28 of Wilmington called 911 reporting that Marquez-Dejesus was operating a vehicle on Maryland Avenue and he was being followed by Josue Hermida-Rivera, 19 of New Castle who just threatened him with a gun.

Troopers also learned that both subjects were involved in an altercation yesterday when Marquez-Dejesus broke a window to Hermida-Rivera’s vehicle. During this altercation both persons threatened to kill each other. That incident, which was not reported to police, resulted in today’s retaliation by Hermida-Rivera.

Earlier today, Marquez-Dejesus was driving on Maryland Avenue when Hermida-Rivera began following him in his vehicle. Marquez-Dejesus called a relative and told them that he was being followed by Hermida-Rivera and that Hermida-Rivera was in possession of a handgun. That family member called 911.

A general broadcast on the blue Ford Explorer that Hermida-Rivera was driving was put out to area officers when a Newport Police Officer located all parties in Banning Park. Upon seeing the police, Hermida-Rivera immediately left the area and drove onto Middleboro Road and onto S. DuPont Road where he was stopped by Newport Police.

A subsequent investigation did not find a weapon in the Ford Explorer as reported to police. However, investigators noted that the passenger side window was down at the time of the stop and that it was raining steadily. While the investigation was underway, additional officers from Newport PD retraced the path driven by Hermida-Rivera from Banning Park to the location of the traffic stop. A Newport officer located a loaded 9 MM Glock handgun on the edge of Middleboro Road. Officers noted the weapon was relatively dry although it had been raining steadily in the area indicating that the gun had not been there very long.

As result of the investigation, Hermida-Rivera was arrested for Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony and Aggravated Menacing. Marquez-Dejesus was also arrested for Criminal Mischief and Terrorist Threatening. Bail information was not readily available.

Note – mug shots are currently not available.